Duplicating apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

L. 0. NEPF. DUPLIGA'I'ING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1905.

un mum )U' Inventor: :L (0 W Mo Atty.

PATIENT orrron.

LOUIS O. NEFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DUPLICATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed April 18, 1905. Serial No. 256,326.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that LLOUIS O. NEFF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Duplicating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying.

drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to duplicating apparatus, and more particularly to a paper-guide attachment therefor. In apparatus of this character the matter to be reproduced or duplicated is transferred to an absorbent transfer sheet, strip, or body, prepared with or composed of a special composition. One of the characteristics of this composition forming such sheet, strip, or body, in addition to its capability of absorbing the special ink used on the original, is an adhesive quality, which in practice not only causes difficulty in separating the duplicate sheets therefrom, but also makes it impossible to so manipulate the blank sheets of paper as to cause matter on the sheet or body to accurately register with a special blank form or lined or ruled paper. This has resulted in the necessity for using plain unruled paper and when special blank forms or ruling is required for ruling each ori inal sheet with special ink, as above referred to.

The main object of my invention is to provide a paper-guide attachment by means of which printed blank sheets of paper or forms may each be adjusted relative to the transfer sheet, strip, or body, so as to cause lines and spaces therein to accurately register with matter transferred to said sheet, strip, or body from a similarly printed, ruled, and spaced original.

A further object is to provide such an attachment having suitable angularly-arranged stops thereon to facilitate a quick and accurate adjustment of the paper and a fixed standard for both the original and the blank sheets or forms.

A still further object is to provide such angular stops as will be capable of adjustment to accommodate the attachment to various blank sheets and forms and, further, of means facilitating such adjustment.

A still further object is to provide means whereby said attachment may be quickly and conveniently placed in a fixed position relative to the transfer strip, sheet, or body, so

as to avoid such a movement of either of these elements relative to the other as would cause the inserts in the transferred matter to vary in relation to the lines or spaces of the blank sheets or forms.

A still further'object is to provide means preventing the adhesion of a portion of the blank sheets or forms to the transfer sheet, strip, or body, to facilitate both the appli cation of the blanks to said sheet, strip, or body and their removal therefrom; and a still further object is to provide an attachment which may readilybe applied to various types of duplicating apparatus.

The invention consists in a paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a nonadhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer strip, sheet, or body of the apparatus and carrying angularly-arranged stops thereon, and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawin s, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box duplicating appa ratus employing a strip or sheet transfer, showing the preferred form of my pap er-guide attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said attachment removed from the apparatus. Fig.3 is an end view thereof, on an enlarged scale, showing the preferred means of fixing said attachment relative to the transfer strip, sheet, or body; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modification of said means.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, a indicates the casing of an ordinary box duplicating apparatus havingat the opposite ends thereof rollers I) 1), upon which is wound the strip or sheet 0, coated or impregnated with a special composition whereby the writing on an original form may be transferred thereto. The portion'of the said strip or sheet between these rollers is afforded abacking bya platform d, carried within said box or casing a. In this form of apparatus various appliances are provided for actuating said rollers and tensioning said strip; but inasmuch as the details of this apparatus do not form a necessary part of this invention I shall not describe same. My paper-guide attachment is used in connection with such an apparatus both to facilitate thereof adapted to enter a slot j in the end of the transfer of the writing of an original form and the adjustment of duplicate blank forms with relation to'the said strip to insure the accurate registering of the lines, spaces, &c., of the blank form with the transferred matter designed to occupy or fill same. This guide comprises a base. e, the bottom of Which is adapted to engage the strip or its equiva lent and the top of which is inclined to bring one edge thereof into close proximity to the said strip 0. Said base is preferably made of stiff metal to give rigidity thereto and topresent upwardly a non-adhesive rest. Toward the other edge of said base 6 is a stop or stops I f, preferably two in number and spaced well apart, and at either or both ends thereof is a side stop g, arranged so as to form a geometrical angle with said top stops. Preferably these stops are pivotally mounted on said base by means of ascrew, as f to permit their adjustment to accommodate the attachment to papers of different widths or having differ ent top or side margins, or, under some cir cumstances, to accommodate the attachment to slight variances between the original form and blank forms. I also cut a plurality of geometrical straight lines I: 7c on the rest-surface of said base, also at right angles to each other, to serve as light gages for the adj ustment of these stops.

It Will be readily observed that only one side stop 9 may be provided, if desired, but that one at each end thereof is desirable to give greater range to the attachment and apparatus.

Owing to the necessity for preserving the position of the paper-guide attachment relevant to the transfer strip, sheet, or body, I provide means whereby said attachment may be fixed in its position. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, this means comprises screws h h, adapted to enter a tapped opening in a face-plate 'i on opposite sides of the boX a. Each sa-id screw is provided with a channel h near the head the base 6. In the modification shown in Fig. 4 I dispense with these screws and equip the base with downwardly-projected prongs Z, adapted to penetrate the said strip and its backing or the transfer-body, of the apparatus.

To apply the preferred form\of the invention, the face-plates i are first secured to the opposite sides of the boX a adjacent to one of the rollers b. The channel h of each screw it is then fitted to a slot j in the end of the base 6. Said screws are then fitted to the said face-plates i, positioning the base 6 across and above the platform d, with the strip or sheet 0 between said base and said platform, thus normally permitting said strip or sheet to pass freely from one roller to the other to bring different portions thereof into operative position. When the strip or sheet is brought to the desired position, the screws 71 are turned, serving, through the channels h therein, as carriers, to bring said base down upon the strip or sheet 0 in a manner to not only cause it to adhere thereto, but also to bind said strip against the platform (1, thus insuring a fixed position of said base relative to the said strip or sheet. It will be observed that the screws it also prevent all movement of said base alone or together with said strip or sheet. The top stops f and side stop or stops 9 are then adjusted to provide a margin on the upper non-adhesive rest corresponding with the top margin and width of the form to be used. The gage-lines Z Z serve as a sight-gage to facilitate a quick yet reasonably minute adj ustmeht of these stops both with relation to the margin of the paper and each other. -These stops, as indicated in dotted lines, will not always present plane surfaces atright angles to each other; but no matter what their position will present a plurality of contact-surfaces arranged on geometrically-straight lines and at substantially a geometrically right angle to each other. When the proper margins are thus provided for, the original form filled in with the special copying-ink is taken in the right hand and the top thereof placed upon the rest and adjusted with the left hand until the top edge and one or both side edges thereof is in contact with the top and side stops and the top margin is perfectly smooth, when by still holding the top margin in this position the form may be pressed upon the transfer strip or sheet to transfer the insert matter in copying-ink to said strip or sheet. The top margin being on a non-adhesive rest, this adjustment may be quickly and accurately accomplished, and after the transfer has been effected the top margin is free, so as to be readily grasped to strip the original from the said strip or sheet, the stops being spaced apart, as shown, both facilitating the placing of the paper and its removal. After the transfer, as above, of the insert matter blank forms (duplicates of that of the original) may be similarly applied to said sheet or strip, the

lines, rulings, and blank spaces falling and registering accurately with relation to thetransferred insert matter appearing on said strip or sheet. The repeated stripping of these sheets of paper does not vary the relation of the strip or sheet and the transferred matter thereon to the paper-guide attachment, so that if the printed forms are reasonably accurate the insert matter will appear on all the sheets on the proper lines, between the proper rulings, or within the proper spaces, thus permitting the use of printed forms and avoiding the necessity for using,

perfectly blank paper and making all matter on the original, including lines, rulings, and standard forms, in copying-ink. This results not only in a saving of material, but

also in a material saving in time for the operator. The rest on said base is brought into close proximity to the transfer strip, sheet, or body to avoid such a space between the top edge thereof and said strip, sheet, or body as will avoid liability of a slight shifting of the paper through its being pressed in against this edge. When the transferred matter is exhausted or the desired number of copies is secured, the screws are released, raising the base 6 and permitting the movement of the said strip or sheet 0. In case all the forms do not present'exactly the same margins, as when running from one lot to another which is inaccurately trimmed, it will be observed that the stops f g may be adjusted to bring the lines, rulings, and spaces there in to register with the proper transferred matter.

I believe that the employment in a paper guide attachment of this character of a base presenting a non-adhesive rest carrying means to guide the user in adjusting the paper to secure an accurate registration with inserts on a transfer sheet, strip, or body to be broadly new, and I intend to claim such broadly. Various expedients may be employed, however, for fixing this paper-guide attachment with relation to the transfer sheet, strip, or body, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. This form of the invention difiers from the preferred form merely in this detail, the prongs Z engaging the sheet, strip, or body or the base supporting same to prevent relative movement of the said sheet, strip, or body and said attachment. It is not, therefore, my intention to limit the invention to the precise details herein shown and described except as clearly defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is"

1. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged stops.

2. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus and carrying thereon angularly-arranged stops, and means whereby said base may be fixed relative to said sheet, strip or body.

3. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops, whereby the margins on said rest may be varied.

4-. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularlyarranged adjustable stops, whereby the margins on said rest may be varied, said rest having a plurality of angularlyarranged gage-lines adjacent to said stops.

5. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer. sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops, whereby the margins on said rest may be varied, and means whereby said base may be fixed relative to said sheet, strip or body.

6. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged stops, said base having bearings on each end thereof, and screws adapted to enter said bearings and force said base upon said sheet, strip or body.

7. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus, comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged stops, said base having slotted bearings on each end thereof, and channeled screws adapted to enter said slots and move said base toward and from said sheet, strip or body.

8. Apaper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged stops, said base having. slotted bearings on each end thereof, channeled screws adapted to enter said slots and move said base toward and from said sheet, strip or body, and a metallicface-plate adapted to receive said screws and to be attached to the support for said sheet, strip or body.

9. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops consisting of a plurality of pivotal top stops spaced apart and a pivotal side stop forming a geometrical angle with said top stops.

10. A paper-guide attachment for duplieating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close roximity to the transfer-sheet,

strip or bo y of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops consisting of a plurality of pivotal top stops spaced apart, and a pivotal side stop forming a geometrical angle with said top stops, said base having bearings on each end thereof, and screws adapted to enter said bearings and force said base upon said sheet, strip or body.

11. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops consisting of a plurality of pivotal top stops spaced apart, anda pivotal side stop forming a geometrical angle with said top stops, said base having bearings on each end thereof, and screws adapted to enter said bearings and Iorce said base upon said sheet, strip or body, said rest having a plurality of angularlyarranged gage-lines adjacent to said stops.

12. A paper-guide attachment for duplicating apparatus comprising a base presenting upwardly a non-adhesive rest extending into close proximity to the transfer sheet, strip or body of the apparatus, and carrying thereon angularly-arranged adjustable stops 25 consisting of a plurality of pivotal top stops spaced apart, and a pivotal side stop forming a geometrical angle with said top stops, said base having slotted bearings on each end thereof, and channeled screws adapted to 30 enter said slots and move said base toward and from said sheet, strip or body, said rest having a plurality of angularly arranged gage-lines adjacent to said stops.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed 3 5 my signature, this 3d day of April, 1905, in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS C. NEFF.

Witnesses:

F. T. WENTWORTH. WM. H. BLAIN. 

